Last updated at 13:53, Friday, 09 December 2011

Aspatria Hornets are looking to finish their first season back in the game with a flourish at Clifton tomorrow.

A point should be enough to ensure they finish top of Group C in the truncated campaign, though the club are thinking long-term.

The shortened season and the switch to summer campaign next year could not have been better-timed for Aspatria as they have been able to use the interim season as a settling-in period in preparation for the season-proper which starts in the spring.

Club spokesman Mark Brown said: “I think that we have met most of the goals we set ourselves at the start of the year with the main one being to be competitive in all our games.

“It would be nice to finish the short season at the top of our group although we know that Clifton will be a tough proposition, especially on their own turf.

“They have a good blend of experience in players like Bryan Park and Scott Burgess and we know that we will have to play well to take the points this weekend.”

Rugby league has a long history in Aspatria, with the Hornets winning the Cumberland Cup in 1922, but the town had been without a team for 15 years until re-launched this term.

Hornets have lost only two league matches, to Kells A and Lowca. Those two clubs meet tomorrow and if Aspatria lose and Kells A win they would overhaul the newcomers.

Aspatria chairman Algie Reynolds said: “The town as a whole has got behind us and the players and staff really appreciate the support they have received this year.

“The Cumbria Cup game against Kells was a highlight for me as there must have been around 350 fans watching that night and although the result didn’t go our way, it showed the level to which we must aspire.”

Aspatria are still recruiting and anyone interested in playing or volunteering should contact secretary Peter Thorndike on peter.bod@talktalk.net

Kells are well ahead in Group A, though Distington are still locked with Seaton vying for second-place.

The race for the runner-up spot could go either way tomorrow as both face tough tasks.

Seaton host Glasson and Distington entertain Cockermouth.

TOMORROW’S FIXTURES

Cumberland League

Group A: Wath Brow v Kells, Seaton v Glasson, Distington v Cockermouth

Group B: Broughton v Hensingham

Group C: Great Clifton v Aspatria, Kells A v Lowca

First published at 11:25, Friday, 09 December 2011
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk